I am SO excited to share this interview with you … Over the last month or so I’ve had the pleasure of being in contact with UBER talented, Brisbane-based artist, Sarah Hickey. She’s not just an amazing artist but as you’ll see, she’s also a truly amazing, humble and down-to-earth person. So without further ado, here’s some eye & ear candy to brighten your day :)
Who is Sarah Hickey?
Wow… Well… She’s a person who’s pretty happy where she is in life right now. She’s a wife, a teacher, an artist, a friend, a next door neighbour, a red wine lover and a hider-of-clothes-recently-purchased … and a dreamer of all things possible.
Sarah Hickey with her ‘A Bird on the Wrist is worth Two in the Bush’. 2009. 120 x140cm, oil and mixed media on canvas.
How would you sum up your work/style in a couple of sentences?
Focused on the feminine, embellished, unabashedly celebratory and gloriously indulgent. I kinda like the idea of ‘piling on the femme deserts’ in my work. I ultimately want to follow what delights me visually and the rest will take care of itself. ‘Build it and they will come’ mentality.
Vampira Sets her Sights on another Conquest. 120 x 140cm, acrylic, oil and mixed media on canvas. Sarah Hickey 2010.
I’m inspired by iconic, beautiful images of women, gathered from a variety of contexts and ‘worlds’. Some of my ladies are found in glamour shots of Hollywood starlets of the 40’s and 50’s, some are found in contemporary magazines… I love the patterning of textile prints, Arabic mosaics, stained glass, contemporary illustrators, street and aerosol art… A trip to Spotlight or Bunnings and a flip through a fashion magazine are more inspirational to me than most things.
How did your practice begin?
In a strange way, I’ve taken art for granted for most of my life. I was pretty good at it at Primary school and High school and went on to study it at QCA. But I was always pretty flippant with it. I didn’t think that I had enough to say as a ‘happy person’ in art and was pretty disillusioned about the critiquing process at uni. I decided to give it up to experience a bit of life and develop a ‘sensible’ career that garnered cash. I’d always been identified as being ‘arty’ and wanted to discover who I could be away from that.
Geisha Girl with Butterfly Clips. 90 x 90cm, acrylic, oil and mixed media on canvas. Sarah Hickey 2010.
The creative dog bit me again more than a decade later after reading a book by New York based writer/artist Julia Cameron entitled ‘The Artist’s Way’. I decided to give it a crack again after so many years of deciding that the ‘creative life’ was a distant memory. I broke the news to my recently married hubby that I wanted to be an artist, took leave from teaching full time and started to produce work again for the little sullen artist girl inside of me that had been told to sit in the corner for far too long. Slowly but surely work began to emerge – not all great – but work that needed to be ‘birthed’ in a way to get to the work of the future.
Have you faced any challenges in your work to date? Absolutely. The financial challenges of paying off a mortgage whilst pursuing a career in art was one of them. And overcoming that long held belief of the ‘poor starving artist’. I’ve always wanted to be successful on many levels but the financial component is one of the most important of them. I think it’s essential that artists back themselves and what they do. The monetary component is a fair trade for what you do as an artist – the energy, the time, the effort – it’s an important exchange of services rendered. Too often I hear/see artists undervalue what they do. I have never been so philanthropic since picking up a paint brush again.
I'm going to Wash those Owls right Outta my Hair. 120 x140cm, acrylic, oil and mixed media on canvas. Sarah Hickey 2010.
Who have you learnt from?
My gorgeous friend Diana Toscano. She left teaching to pursue her dream of designing couture bridal gowns. Watching her leave a stable profession and not only survive but thrive was really exhilarating. I’m a big believer in the ‘Law of Attraction’ thing. We are more powerful than we realise. I truly believe that and it proves itself to me every day.
What do you love most about being an artist?
The freedom. The ability to get up late, have a leisurely breakfast, ponder my navel and essentially start ‘work’ at midday. When you feel forced to do something even for a short time, it feels like a whole day has passed, but when you feel inspired, you have unlimited energy that seems to propel you forward.
I really like having time to myself. I also feel the possibility of things to come with art rather than feeling that the rest of my life is mapped out and predictable. I like the adventure. I like the happiness that it brings.
Lioness Leonora on the Hunt with her Fan Dance. 100 x 140cm, oil acrylic and mixed media on canvas. Sarah Hickey 2010.
Do you have a ‘day job’ or is art your full time occupation?
Yes. I teach a five day fortnight. I find the balance really good - working a little, playing a little and producing a bit of art. It’s all good.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share?
My advice would be to have fun, follow your heart and leave the peanut gallery out of it. Nobody truly knows what you want from life and the vision you have for the future like you do. Follow your gut at all times.
Can you finish these sentences:
In another life I would love to … Be a panda bear – nothing but eating and sleeping all day long.
If I had all the power in the world I would … Not change a thing. It’s all perfectly balanced and we’re less flawed than we think we are.
The first thing I do every morning is … Talk myself into the day ahead.
My motto is … I don’t have a motto as yet. It’d probably be ‘It’s all good’.
The Watching Huntress - Can See the Meat for the Trees. 100 x 140cm, oil acrylic and mixed media on canvas. Sarah Hickey 2010.
Where can we find you?
I’ve got a solo exhibition coming up from the 7th – 13th October at White Canvas Gallery. Opening night will be on the Saturday. Come one, come all! Will post details on Facebook and the web.
Sarah’s Website
Sarah’s Blog
Sarah’s Facebook Fan Page
Thank You so much Sarah! I’m in awe and I wish you all the success you could ever ask for! ♥ Chrissy Foreman C
